BSE Sensex Today - Live Price,Chart & Historical Returns | DSP

Last updated: Jun 11, 2026 3 min

The BSE Sensex is India's oldest benchmark equity index, tracking 30 large and financially established companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The index uses free-float market capitalisation methodology and is widely tracked by investors, institutions, mutual funds, and financial media as a benchmark for the Indian equity market.

The BSE Sensex is also commonly used as a benchmark for large-cap mutual funds, ETFs, and passive investment portfolios in India.

Key Takeaways

The Sensex tracks 30 large-cap companies listed on BSE.
The index uses free-float market capitalisation methodology.
Financial services have the highest weight in the index.
The index is reviewed semi-annually by Asia Index Pvt. Ltd.
Investors can gain exposure through ETFs and index funds.
The Sensex TRI includes dividends reinvested into the index.

BSE Sensex TRI

What is the BSE Sensex?

Note: BSE Sensex and S&P BSE SENSEX refer to the exact same index. The 'S&P' prefix was added in 2013 after a co-branding partnership between BSE Ltd. and S&P Dow Jones Indices. In India, it is widely known as the Sensex or BSE Sensex.

The BSE Sensex is a free-float market capitalisation-weighted index comprising 30 large, liquid, and financially established companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). It is one of the primary indicators of the Indian equity market and is widely used to measure overall market performance.

Launched on January 1, 1986, with a base value of 100 and base year 1978–79, the Sensex is India's oldest stock market benchmark index. The "S&P" prefix was added in 2013 following a co-branding partnership between BSE and S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Why is it called the SENSEX?

The name "SENSEX" was coined by stock market analyst Deepak Mohoni in 1989. It is a portmanteau of the words Sensitive and Index - reflecting the index's role as a sensitive barometer of the broader Indian equity market. The term became widely adopted and has since become synonymous with Indian stock market performance globally.

How Does the Sensex Work?

The index is calculated using the free-float market capitalisation methodology. Under this approach, only shares available for public trading are considered while calculating the index value. Shares held by promoters, governments, and strategic investors are excluded.

Companies are selected based on: free-float market capitalisation, liquidity, trading frequency, sector representation, and listing history. The index undergoes periodic reviews and rebalancing to ensure it continues to represent large-cap Indian equities effectively.

Sensex Calculation Formula

Sensex Value = (Total free-float market capitalisation of constituents ÷ Base period free-float market capitalisation) × 100

Example: If the aggregate free-float market cap of all 30 constituents is ₹180 lakh crore and the base market cap is ₹1 lakh crore, the Sensex value = (180,00,000 ÷ 1,00,000) × 100 = 18,000.

Who Maintains the Sensex?

The BSE Sensex is maintained by Asia Index Private Limited, a joint venture between S&P Dow Jones Indices and BSE Ltd. The organisation is responsible for index methodology, periodic reviews, rebalancing, and constituent selection.

What is the Sensex TRI?

The Total Return Index (TRI) version of the Sensex includes dividends paid by constituent companies and assumes those dividends are reinvested back into the index. Most index mutual funds and ETFs benchmark themselves against the Sensex TRI because it provides a more comprehensive representation of investor returns over time.

The Sensex has historically reflected long-term trends in corporate earnings, economic growth, and investor participation in Indian equities.

Risks to Consider Before Investing

Sensex-tracking funds offer broad large-cap diversification, but they are not risk-free. Equity markets are subject to short-term volatility, and the Sensex has historically experienced significant drawdowns during market crises such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, with only 30 constituents, sector concentration can amplify losses if a particular industry faces headwinds. Tracking error may also cause returns to marginally differ from the benchmark index. As with all equity investments, a long-term investment horizon of at least 5 years is recommended.

DSP BSE SENSEX ETF

The DSP BSE SENSEX ETF tracks the BSE Sensex TRI by investing in all 30 constituent companies in proportion to their free-float market capitalisation. Expense Ratio: 0.07%.

Fund URL: https://www.dspim.com/invest/mutual-fund-schemes/exchange-traded-funds/bse-sensex-etf/dspbs-direct-growth

DSP BSE Sensex Next 30 ETF

The DSP BSE Sensex Next 30 ETF tracks companies ranked immediately below the Sensex 30 based on free-float market capitalisation. Expense Ratio: 0.15%.

Fund URL: https://www.dspim.com/invest/mutual-fund-schemes/exchange-traded-funds/BSE-Sensex-Next-30-ETF/dssne-direct-growth

DSP BSE Sensex Next 30 Index Fund

The DSP BSE Sensex Next 30 Index Fund provides exposure to companies ranked 31st to 60th on BSE by free-float market capitalisation. SIP investments available from ₹100/month. Expense Ratio: 0.13%.

Fund URL: https://www.dspim.com/invest/mutual-fund-schemes/equity-funds/BSE-Sensex-Next-30-Index-Fund/dbssi-regular-growth

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Sensex calculated?

The Sensex uses the free-float market capitalisation methodology, where only publicly traded shares are considered. The formula is: (Total free-float market cap ÷ Base market cap) × 100.

Why does the Sensex rise and fall?

The Sensex reacts to corporate earnings, economic data, interest rates, global markets, FII/DII flows, crude oil prices, and geopolitical events.

Can I invest directly in the Sensex?

The Sensex itself is not directly investable. Investors can gain exposure through ETFs and index funds tracking the index.

How often do Sensex constituents change?

The index is reviewed semi-annually by Asia Index Private Limited. Companies may be added or removed based on market capitalisation, liquidity, and sector representation.

What is free-float market capitalisation?

Free-float market capitalisation considers only shares available for public trading while excluding promoter, government, and strategic holdings.

Is the Sensex a good indicator of the Indian economy?

The Sensex is widely used as an indicator of investor sentiment and corporate performance in India, though it tracks only 30 large-cap companies and does not fully represent the entire economy.

What happens when a stock is removed from the Sensex?

A stock may be removed during periodic reviews if it no longer meets criteria related to liquidity, market capitalisation, or sector representation. A replacement stock is added simultaneously.

Which company has the highest weight in the Sensex?

As of the most recent semi-annual rebalancing, HDFC Bank typically carries the highest weightage in the BSE Sensex due to its large free-float market capitalisation. The exact weightage fluctuates with daily market prices and is recalculated periodically by Asia Index Private Limited. Investors can check the current constituent weights on the BSE India official website.

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Disclaimer

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.